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  • The Member Stories section of our site is a place where members can submit the stories of their experiences as a person living with dysautonomia.  We also link to member stories that have appeared in our newsletter.  Please note that Member Stories are not edited by DINET and the views and beliefs expressed in the articles are strictly the views of the member.   Please note that the stories submitted are reviewed for content and should follow the guidelines of the site.  We do our best to publish each story submitted,  but publication is at DINET's discretion. If you would like to submit your story, please write to webmaster@dinet.org - include "member story" in the subject line. 

Christine's Story


edriscoll

by Christine
April 2006

My life up until four years ago was wonderful. I had a great job and a wonderful relationship. Then it all came crashing down one summer day.

I was on my way to work when I started getting lower abdominal pain, but at the time I didn't think much of it.  However, over time the pain started traveling down my right leg, so I went to see a neurologist and started getting nerve block injections. I had at least 5 of the injections, but they did not work. Over the next year the pain slowly went away, but I never found out why it had happened.

With the pain gone, my life slowly got back to normal. I got a new job, got engaged and planned my wedding. Then, on a summer day, my life that I loved so much came to a crashing downward spiral. I started to have fainting episodes that occurred almost daily.

I saw doctor after doctor, but they all told me it was psychological and I was just stressed about getting married. So I went to a therapist, who believed I was truly sick. I didn't know who to believe, and my health kept getting worse. I started getting extreme fatigue, blurred vision, undiagnosed pain, severe syncope, nausea, and many other symptoms. I had a tilt table test, EKG, Brain scan, Ct scan; the works...and still no diagnoses other than stress and low BP.



 

Finally my cardiologist sent me to Toledo to see a specialist. At this point, I was so depressed that I didn't think this doctor would be able to help. I was terrified as I walked into his office, but he put me right at ease. This doctor has been my saving grace. He's finally given me a diagnosis. I have dysautonomia with POTS and Mitral Valve Prolapse.

I am now taking different meds to try to increase my blood pressure. I still faint almost every day and am always getting injured. Still, I have hope that one day my life will get back to normal.

Sadly, it's been a relief to find out I truly have something wrong with me. At least I know I am not going crazy.




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